Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Carol for the Week: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

(Note: Word for the Week takes a month-long break to make room for this. That's PR speak for I'm bored.)

Seriously, the comma in this song title is so critical. Consider the alternates:

God, Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Send 'em tipsy scallywags to eternal damnation, oh Divine One!

God Rest, Ye Merry Gentlemen - Take a fiver, Great Diviner! We'll handle the sunrise for a day!

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen - Dear happy lads, fear not. Mr Ye will never con you of your 30 cents. Ever. Again. Signed, Elohim.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, - Yestiedae een Engrish crass I leern erbaut panchuwaychern,., I yuse corekt, yar, yar?,.

Tempered Mental - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (from A musiccanteen Christmas)
A Tempered Mental song with chirpy acoustic strums in 4/4? Melina Williams endures the sunshine for about 1 minute and 45 seconds, then sends forth her signature tidings of prog grog and gloom.

Pedro the Lion - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Christmas 7" single)
The original has seven verses, yet David Bazan subtracts six, adds two and multiplies the doubt with a bottle of Christmas whisky. Awesome.

Orange and Lemons - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (from CloseUp - Season of Smiles)
Filipino indie rock bloomers scorn the sorrow, jangle the jingle, and let the egg nogs kick in.

Jars of Clay - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (from Drummer Boy EP)
First, the plucks. Then, the violin. Add the cello. And don't forget the flute. Result? CCM's pioneers ache it with the most suicidal of 'em.

Billy Idol - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (from Happy Holidays)
Have you seen the album cover for this? No, first, have you seen this and this and this—and now, have you seen this?

1 comment:

Athalia said...

I never knew there was a comma in the title!

 
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